Happy Thanksgiving!

On Thanksgiving, Americans begin the holiday season gathering with family and loved ones to celebrate our shared community, reflect on the previous year, and remind ourselves that we should not take our blessings for granted.

As we prepare for our Thanksgiving meal, I am thankful that Illinois is home to some of our world’s richest farmland, producing much of the food that can be found on Thanksgiving tables across the country. Whether you’re enjoying pumpkin pie, green bean casserole, or sweet corn, take a moment to thank the farmers and producers in Illinois who work tirelessly to feed our country and the world.

I am especially grateful for the brave men and women serving overseas to protect our nation and the freedoms that make the United States the greatest country in the world. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Central and Northwestern Illinois in Congress and to represent the great people of the 16th District. I am thankful for my three sons, McKay, Lucas, and Teddy, my loving wife Kristen, and our home in Central Illinois.

Like many of you, we are blessed with good health, a loving family, and a wonderful community, but it is important not to forget those who are less fortunate. I encourage everyone who can, to volunteer or donate to a cause that gives back to those who need it most this holiday season. 

Whether you are gathering with friends to watch football, participating in the local Turkey Trot, making a last-minute run to the grocery store, or putting the finishing touches on your Thanksgiving dinner, take a moment to stop and reflect on what you are thankful for today. We are all blessed to live in a country that allows each of us the freedom to chart our own path and to live out the American dream. For that, we should all be thankful!

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving spent with family and loved ones!

Sincerely,

Darin LaHood
Member of Congress